Essential Oils, DIYs and Tasty Treats!

DIY Facial Serum

I LOVE THIS FACIAL SERUM!! My skin looks so much smoother and healthier when I wake up in the morning. I would never have guessed that making my own serum would work just as good, or better, than the name-brand stuff I used to buy.

Facial serums are an important part of a skin-care regimen, just as much as a good cleanser and moisturizer. Facial serum will provide nourishment and soothing to your skin.

If you have acne-prone skin, you would benefit from a light, astringent serum to keep your face moisturized and nourished without clogging pores. And you will also want to use as a toner, either Bragg’s apple cider vinegar, or organic witchhazel – or both combined (witchhazel-based toner is the best for your skin, as it will not dry it out like an alcohol-based toner would). Toner is a must in any skin care regimen because it firms, tightens and tones the skin.

If you are 25 or older, I would highly recommend using an anti-aging facial serum. It’s never too early to start nourishing aging skin. As your skin ages, it loses its elasticity and starts to sag. Without proper moisture and nourishment, you may end up looking like an American bulldog by the time you are 60. Sorry, it’s truth – and the truth hurts…

Let’s get started!

FIRST, choose your carrier oil – which is your main ingredient. It’s also known as the “base oil.” Below are a list of very light base oils that will penetrate your pores quickly and not leave your skin feeling sticky or greasy:

– Carrot seed oil (super nourishing! – you only need a miniscule amount of this oil. Beware, it does not smell like carrots! It has a pungent, earthy scent). Some say it’s a natural SPF, but I don’t know if that is accurate.

THIRD, choose your favorite essential oils that work best with your specific skin care needs. You will only need a few small drops of essential oil as they are mega potent (if you have the good stuff – thereapeutic-grade from a reputable company that shares where the oils are sourced from, and how much testing they go through for purity and efficacy. If you are not sure where to find them, please comment below and I’ll help you).

Here are the most-used essential oils in skin care:

– Lavender (oily or dry skin)

– Peppermint (oily or dry skin)

– Chamomile (soothing for sensitive skin)

– Rose (for aging, dry and normal skin) (Unless you are the CEO of Microsoft, you may not be able to afford this oil!)

– Geranium (for dry, sensitive, aging, and normal skin)

– Lemongrass (brightens/tones – for normal or oily skin)

– Rosemary (moisturizes oily skin)

LAST, take the dropper top off of a 1-oz glass bottle and:

1. Fill your bottle just under 2/3 of the way with your base oil.

2. Add “extra” oil until the bottle is just about full (If you are using carrot seed oil, only use a few drops)

3. Add 5-7 drops of essential oil. (Less if you’re using peppermint!! – and make sure to keep away from eyes). Put the cap on your bottle and shake well. You should be able to smell the oils, but it should not be overwhelming.

Apply 2-3 drops to face and neck after cleansing, and before your moisturizer. If you use toner, use it after the toner. You will not need a moisturizer after applying the serum – it should give you enough moisture on its own. Keep your serum out of the sunlight (use a dark colored class bottle, such as amber or cobalt blue). Give it a little shake each time before you apply the serum, to make sure the oils are well combined. It should be good for up to 12 months.

This recipe may need tweaking, to accommodate your skin care needs. We all have different skin types, and an oil that is good for one may not be good for another. I would suggest by making only a small amount at first. If it ends up not working for your face, you can always rub it on your body to moisturize before bed, or add it to your whipped body butter (see my recipe HERE). The mixture will still benefit your skin, and does not need to go to waste.

To learn more about essential oils, or where I get mine from, please email me at: karekorn@gmail.com.